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Commission approves ambulance agreement to station county ambulance at Discovery Ski Hill
Summary
The commission approved an agreement to provide ambulance service to Discovery Ski Hill; the ski area will be billed when insurance or patients do not pay, and the ski-hill manager has agreed to guarantee payment if necessary.
The Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Commission approved an agreement to station an ambulance at Discovery Ski Hill to improve emergency response for skiers and other visitors.
Anaconda Fire Chief Cody Taher told commissioners the proposal was negotiated with the ski-hill manager and the county CEO. "Tonight before you is an agreement with Anaconda-Deer Lodge County with Discovery Ski Hill to provide an ambulance up there," Taher said, noting that the ski hill is used heavily by county residents and tourists.
Under the agreement, county ambulance crews will respond as needed and, if insurance or the patient does not cover the bill, Discovery Ski Hill will be responsible for payment. Taher said the ski-patrol is well-trained to evaluate whether an ambulance is needed; when the ski patrol calls and the ambulance is used and payment cannot be collected, the ski-hill manager has agreed to guarantee payment.
County staff said the arrangement has been in place in similar form for roughly three years, with roughly 13 runs to the hill in the last year, and that the system has worked well because the ski patrol screens calls carefully. Commissioners moved to approve the agreement and the motion passed.
